Adventures with Stacie

Evan’s aunt Shannon gave me an AWESOME Christmas gift this year! It was a photo album with black and whites of Evan as a baby, and a few color ones as well. I started crying the minute I opened it. I can’t believe how fast time flies by. He was such a happy baby and for the most part tends to still be happy…except for those hormonal teenage days. lol. anyway I wanted to share these pictures so here you go

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and we are heading down to the cottage for our annual New Year’s Family bash..

I was thinking this morning how much has happened or changed in the past year…

This time last year I was cursing Evan’s father for being a loser and not being involved in his son’s life…he has done a big turn around and has been very involved with Evan

I have had a couple of “relationships” in the past year…I use the term relationship very loosely. A few people have mentioned to me that 2012 will be my year. Though at times I think it would be nice to not the the odd wheel with all the couples around me, and to have someone to spend time with, I also enjoy my independence and doing things how and when I want to do things. I sometimes wonder if I will ever find that “one” who can put up with my finickiness. Will I find someone that I won’t get bored with after two months?? I’m not look for a pity party here, just voicing the thoughts I sometimes have.

In the past year I have was laid off from IPC, where I worked for 11 years. It was hard to take at first. I was devastated. I felt like I was handed divorce papers. Some of the people at IPC I have known for 11 years. We had seen each other through lots of ups and downs. I picked my head up though, let my fingers do the walking on Monster.com among other sites and was fortunate to find a job within a month. UNfortunately it was NOT the job for me as I soon found out, but thanks to the grace of god and prayers, I received a phone call from Franklin Sports, where I now work, offering me a customer service job. I hopped right on that. It’s local, the people are all very nice. There is very little stress and drama. I love it!

As you all know we went to Disney this year. what an AMAZING trip! It rained for a couple of days but we still had such a great time!! Surprising Evan was the best! I hope it will be something he remembers for the rest of his life. I still can’t believe that I was able to keep it a secret for 8 months!!! It was such a tremendous feeling to be able to take my son to Disney, all on my own!!

I started attending church regularly and I feel great about it. Evan has been involved in the youth group at the church as well and he loves it. I started going with my friend Di and I have met some really wonderful people! I look forward to going every Sunday. I was sad to miss this weeks service, as it was on Christmas Eve and I had the Heal Christmas to attend. I will also miss this weeks service as I will be down the cape for New Year’s festivities. We’ll be back on the 8th though! Can’t wait!

Last February I joined WW with a bunch of ladies from work and I lost almost all of the weight I put on after quitting smoking. Unfortunately after being laid off I couldn’t afford WW and I wasn’t being strict with myself and put on at least half the weight that I lost. Julie and I have joined together though and I’m back on the losing track! Julie is doing AWESOME!! I haven’t been as strict as I could be, after the new year I will crack down and start losing!! I WILL be a Yummy Mummy this summer!!

I have reconnected with some old friends this year and made some new friends, as well as cut ties with those friends who should not really be categorized as “friends”

This year I hope to strengthen my relationships with all of my friends and family. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life and I hope that they know how much I appreciate each and every one!

I wish everyone a Happy & Healthy New Year!!!!

Until next year….

I decided to let my loved ones write my T.O.T. again

Here are a few of their favorite things about me

1) Wayne Tucker – That you’re down to drink when drinking needs to be done.
2) Crista Campbell – your heart ♥
3) Peggy Donahue – And u help me with pictures!!!!!
4) Tanya Dennison Pimental – Not only are you great to have a drink with and have a huge heart…but you’re an amazing mom and friend. You wear your feelings on you sleeve and your not ashamed of it.
5) Carrie-Ann Barreira – Your love for your son and how carefree and good hearted you are.
6) Rachel Ventura – You’re not just my cousin, you’re a great friend! You’re loving and caring and fun! And I love you!! ♥
7) Nicole Karo – Ur a great mom =D
Michelle Leger Tautkus – AND QUITE FUNNY I MUST ADD
9) Sharon Shea Heal – You are so honest! I’m so honored to be a part of your life. I truly love you.
10) Wally Heal – Your brother

Seems the good mom and good heart is a pretty common favorite

A couple more that exceeded the list of ten were:

Margaret Costello – Your generosity and giving spirit:)
Michelle Cartier – the way you put everyone else before yourself

thank You all for boosting my self esteem a little!
Love you all with my great big heart!

Being that Evan is 12 and Christmas falls in the 12th month of the year, thought I would post a few pics from Evan’s very first Christmas…12 years ago..WHAT?!?!?

My baby is no longer a baby

Giving that it is Thanksgiving week I thought I would do a Top Ten about the things I am grateful for

1. first and foremost my Evan…He truly is the light of my life and I am amazed at the young man he is growing up to be.

2. Family…I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family. I can always count on my family in good times and bad

3. My Health…I am so grateful to have my health, I try to take care of myself the best I can in order to keep my health in check…so far so good

4. Employment…I have been blessed in this area. After getting laid off in June from IPC, after 11 years, I immediately starting panicking thinking of all the folks I know who spent months, some years, some still looking for a job. I was very fortunate to find a job so soon, and even after finding it to be a miserable job, found another in no time, for that I am VERY grateful

5. Friends…although I have my family, there are a handful of friends that I would absolutely by lost without

6. Housing…It is so sad to think about how many people are losing their homes in this awful economy. I am so grateful to have a roof over my head

7. Food…Sometimes we take our meals for granted. After assisting with the packaging and delivering of almost 3000 Thanksgiving baskets for families in need…it really puts things in perspective

8. Clothes…We all say that we NEED new clothes, because we are bored of the clothes that we wear all the time. Think of those who wear the same thing EVERY day because that is all they have. I am grateful to be able to choose a different outfit each day, even if I wore it last week

9. My car…I am grateful to have a vehicle to get me to my job and get Evan to where he needs to go. In these cold months ahead, I am grateful to know that I don’t have to walk or wait in the cold for a bus

10. The free turkey that is currently in my car from Franklin Sports!!! Yumm Yumm

So Julie and I joined Weight Watchers last weekend. I am glad to back on the program and glad to have someone to do it with. I just don’t have the discipline to do it online and/or by myself. I tried to just do it on line and it was an epic fail. Julie and I are a united front who will hold each other accountable so that we achieve our goals!! Some people say I don’t need to lose any weight, but if you’re not happy in your own skin, no matter what others say, then there is always room for improvement. I put on 20 pounds when I quit smoking, which I ‘m glad to bot be a prisoner to that awful habit anymore, but I don’t exactly like the results of the weight gain. I was doing good when I joined last February, when I had a support system of my coworkers who were also going WW with me. Then when I got laid off I had to cancel my membership, because of course I had to watch my funds. Then sitting at home job hunting at the computer, snacking…pretty much put all of the weight I lost, right back on!
I am little worried about tomorrow’s weigh in as I have gone over a couple times this week. But it’s a process. Part of the problem with going over this week is not having the money at the moment to stock up on healthy snacks.
I went walking with the girls at lunch today. Two miles in a 1/2 hour, not too shabby! If I can continue with that and keep eating the right things, come summer time…look out!!!

Let the Journey begin!!!

Wow I can not even believe how quickly this summer has gone by quickly. We’re already midway through fall.

It’s been quite a bit since my last blog and a lot has gone on the biggest most amazing thing was our trip to Disney

for T.O.T. I am figured I would list my 10 most favorite things about our trip….counting down from 10 to the NUMBER ONE favorite… oh boy this is going to be difficult….

10. Coming home… although I was sad to leave. It was nice to come home

9. Food… We had the Quick Service Meal Plan so we only had to pay for one meal a day… next time I think I will upgrade to average out to spend $10 / day which includes a sit down meal

8. The sun… the first two days it rained so when the sun came out Sunday afternoon it was awesome!

7. Watching Evan be appointed an Apprentice Pirate

6. Dressing up for the MNSSHP

5. Trick or Treating in Magic Kingdom

4. The Luau dinner show at the Polynesian…wow those guys were HOT!!!

3. Listening to Evan screaming with delight from behind me on Space Mountain

2. Seeing the look on Evan’s face and hearing the scream come from Lucy when they realized we were all at Disney together

1. The look of shock on Evan’s face when the surprise was revealed and the huge smile in the limo on our way to the airport

Hmmm I guess it wasn’t that difficult after all.

I can not wait to go back…hoping for 2013!!!!

Here are a few moments captured on camera

Another week has passed and the summer is sadly coming to an end. Although, the sooner summer ends, the sooner October will be here and we will be off to DISNEY!!!!! Which brings me to number 1..

1) 59 days until Disney!!! I have purchased Design a Bottles from work to personalize for us. Michelle got some tote bags and is ordering T shirts, for our immediate group and Tanya made Autograph books. How special this trip is going to be
2) I am no into my 4th week at my job and it is very fast paced. I like that it makes the day go by quicker but some people have mistaken me for a door mat…I have quickly corrected them.
3) So I have been seeing someone for a couple of weeks now. I haven’t said anything to anyone because, sadly, relationships and me, somehow never seem to mesh. In the lat three weeks I have received two beautiful bouquets of Lillies, delivered to my work, a personal delivery of chocolates, and a few lovely dinners. Can’t complain
4) this past weekend was our Sheridan Beach Bash in NH. It was a blast! I think everyone had a great time. Lots of food, games, and quality family time
5) While in NH, Evan “lost” his iPod. I actually found it but am not telling him until he has earned the money to purchase a new one. Need to teach that boy a lesson in taking care of his things.
6) I can not believe that, in just under a month, my baby will be in middle school. My goodness where has the time gone.
7) For summer reading Evan has chosen to read Red Riding Hood. An odd choice I thought, but as long as he reads it. to help him raise money and to give him incentive to read, I have offered to give him $0.50 for every page he reads (payable once the book is done)…This will earn him about $150
8. Here I am again wondering why is it that a father does not want to be involved in his child’s life. Fred has not seen Evan since before he went off to PA. It kills me to think that he is going to do this to Evan AGAIN!!!!
9) I have a goal to move out of my mothers house in the year 2012. We have been here way longer than I initially planned.
10) I have re-joined Weight watchers in hopes to lose the weight I gained back since being unemployed and the rest of the weight that I hadn’t yet lost towards my goal. My high goal is 135 (pre-pregnancy weight), but my realistic goal is 140. Hoping to run some races with Tanya in this next upcoming year

Until next week.. or next time i have a chance to post

Wow have I been slacking on this blog here! There have been many adventures with Stacie in the past month or so. Being that it is Tuesday it is only fitting that I list my adventures in T.O.T fashion

In my last post I wrote how I was laid off from my job of 11 years. so adventure
# 1 was filing for unemployment
# 2 Sheridan girls trip to NYC
# 3 part time gig with care.com which has become an adventure in itself
# 4 tirelessly sifting through job sites looking for a job
# 5 Interview at my now place of employment Cool Gear International
# 6 A cookout with Fred’s biological family, which of course is Evan’s relatives as well
# 7 A fabulous, as always, July 4th weekend at the cottage with my AWESOME family
# 8 My first solo trip to the beach
# 9 I had my first golfing experience with the Sheridan Golf Invitational / David Minicucci Memorial (SGIDMM)
# 10 And the biggest adventure of all was that of Evan’s first trip away from his mother at a youth ministry camp in Pennsylvania

Despite being unemployed, this past month was great.
I feel so blessed to have found a job so quickly and I know that is a result of everyone’s support and prayers that the good lord was gracious enough to answer

Looking forward to the rest of the summer and more adventures

This past Thursday I was laid off from the company I have spent the last 11 years of my life with. I truly was crushed. You hear people say that you spend more time (or just as much) with your work family then you do with your actual family. There were many people at IPC that truly were like family to me. They have seen me go through a number of hardships, from leaving my sons father, to the death of my grandparents, to break ups, conflcts with Evan and so much more. I have also been there to comfort a soul or two through their hardships. I really do miss getting up and going to see these people every day.

I was very upset and really freaking out when I got the initial announcement of my termination. “Termination” that’s such an ugly word. I had so many thoughts going through my head. What about health insurance? What about my car payments? What about summer camp? Disney? Rent??
I calmed myself down and shooshed the negative vibes away and put on my positive patty hat. I told myself it will all be ok. This is a chapter in my life that has been closed and it is time to start a new chapter, or perhaps a whole new book. God would not close this door without opening another

I have been praying ever since and diligently applying for jobs. With God’s guidance and the love and support of my family and friends, I have training Friday, for a part time work at home job on the Mom Force. I also received a call back from a job I saw on Monster.com, yesterday, basically doing the same job I was just let go from and I now have an interview tomorrow at 10 a.m.

A lot of people advised me to just relax and take the summer off, but I just can’t do that. It is not in my nature to sit around and do nothing all day. Some days I wish it was. In the past two days I have applied for 7 jobs online, 8 if you include Care.com.

I am determined to not be out of work for too long. I have bills to pay and a child to take care of, plus I am a responsible adult…some might argue that LOL

Thank you everyone for your love and support! It truly is appreciated!